NCEL: Knaresborough Town fall at feet of Eccleshill

Fatlum Ibrahimi controls the ball under pressure for Knaresborough Town (Photo, Craig Dinsdale)

Published:11:05Monday 14 March 2016

Eccleshill United 3-1 Knaresborough Town

Knaresborough Town’s four-game unbeaten run came to an end at the hands of Eccleshill United, who beat them 3-1 in the Northern Counties East League division one.

Eccleshill sit well below Town in the table but the visitors failed to show the fluency that they have in recent weeks and squandered several good chances, although they were denied what they believed to be a goal when Toby Lees’ header was scrambled off the line.

Knaresborough dominated the early exchanges, as George Eustance shot wide and Ben Parkes had a powerful effort blocked by Jermaine Springer.

Fatlum Ibrahimi’s header sailed over the bar as the away side did the early running, although Jack Rushworth was twice called into action by Lee Smith.

Defender Will Lenehan had the best chance of the first half, coming close and forcing Joe Stead in the home net into a fine save with his legs.

Knaresborough felt Bradley Walker's effort had crossed the line but the referee waved away their protests

Against the run of the play, The Eagles took the lead in the 39th minute when Town failed to clear their lines and Luke Harrop fired home.

The game’s flashpoint came before the break when left-back Lees nodded a cross towards goal and netminder Stead pawed the ball from the goal-line under pressure from Brad Walker.

Neither the referee nor his assistant closest to the incident had a good enough view to give the goal, much to the ire of the Knaresborough bench.

Determined to avenge their injustice, Town pressed hard after the break and were rewarded with an equaliser in the 62nd minute. After a free-kick, Ibrahimi followed up with a left-footed shot that was parried by Stead, but only into the path of Jonty Maullin who forced in the rebound for his first goal of the club.

‘Boro had several opportunities to take the lead with the game at 1-1, as Maullin, Walker and Fraser

Lancaster all sent efforts wide of the mark.

With 74 minutes on the clock, Charlie Flaherty’s deep cross was converted by Harrop for his second goal of the afternoon.

Ibrahimi tried to make amends with a foray forward but Andy Cooper was afford too much space in the box and he capped a disappointing afternoon for Knaresborough with a finish into the bottom corner in the 84th minute.